# 2012 Washington elections

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Elections held in the state of Washington on November 6, 2012. A nonpartisan blanket primary was held on August 7, 2012.

## Federal
### U.S. President

In this election, Washington had 12 electors to the Electoral College. Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama safely carried the state, gaining all 12 electoral votes against Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
2012 United States presidential election in Washington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barack Obama (incumbent) | 1,755,396 | 55.80 |
| | Republican | Mitt Romney | 1,290,670 | 41.03 |
| | Libertarian | Gary Johnson | 42,202 | 1.34 |
| | Green | Jill Stein | 20,928 | 0.67 |
| | Constitution | Virgil Goode | 8,851 | 0.28 |
| | Justice | Rocky Anderson | 4,946 | 0.16 |
| | Socialism and Liberation | Peta Lindsay | 1,318 | 0.04 |
| | Socialist Workers | James Harris | 1,205 | 0.04 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 20,442 | 0.65 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,145,958 | 100.00 |

### U.S. Senate

Incumbent Democratic senator Maria Cantwell won re-election to a third term against Republican state senator Michael Baumgartner.
2012 United States Senate election in Washington :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Maria Cantwell (incumbent) | 626,360 | 55.42 |
| | Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 344,729 | 30.50 |
| | Republican | Art Coday | 59,255 | 5.24 |
| | Democratic | Timothy Wilson | 26,850 | 2.38 |
| | Republican | Chuck Jackson | 21,870 | 1.94 |
| | Republican | Glenn R. Stockwell | 21,731 | 1.92 |
| | Republican | Mike the Mover | 16,459 | 1.46 |
| | Reform | Will Baker | 12,865 | 1.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,130,119 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Maria Cantwell (incumbent) | 1,855,493 | 60.45 |
| | Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 1,213,924 | 39.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,069,417 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### U.S. House

Due to the results of the 2010 United States census, Washington elected U.S. Representatives from ten congressional districts, a gain of one seat.
Incumbents Rick Larsen (D-2nd), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-3rd), Doc Hastings (R-4th), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th), Jim McDermott (D-7th), Dave Reichert (R-8th), and Adam Smith (R-9th) ran for re-election and won. Incumbents Jay Inslee (D-1st) and Norman D. Dicks (D-6th) retired and were respectively succeeded by Suzan DelBene (D) and Derek Kilmer (D). Denny Heck (D) was elected to the newly created 10th district.
The resulting composition was six Democrats and four Republicans.

## State
### Governor

Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to run for a third term. Democratic congressman Jay Inslee ran to succeed her, earning Gregoire's endorsement. He faced Republican attorney general Rob McKenna in the general election, defeating him by a small margin.
2012 Washington gubernatorial election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jay Inslee | 664,534 | 47.13 |
| | Republican | Rob McKenna | 604,872 | 42.90 |
| | Republican | Shahram Hadian | 46,169 | 3.27 |
| | Democratic | Rob Hill | 45,453 | 3.22 |
| | Independent | James White | 13,764 | 0.98 |
| | Independent | Christian Joubert | 10,457 | 0.74 |
| | Independent | L. Dale Sorgen | 9,734 | 0.69 |
| | Republican | Max Sampson | 8,753 | 0.62 |
| | Republican | Javier O. Lopez | 6,131 | 0.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,409,867 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jay Inslee | 1,582,802 | 51.40 |
| | Republican | Rob McKenna | 1,488,245 | 48.33 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 8,592 | 0.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,079,639 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Brad Owen ran for re-election to a fifth term.

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Brad Owen (D) | Bill Finkbeiner (R) | Undecided |
| Elway Research | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 42% | 32% | 26% |
| Elway Research | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 43% | 27% | 29% |
2012 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 648,110 | 48.52 |
| | Republican | Bill Finkbeiner | 352,195 | 26.36 |
| | Independent Republican | Glenn Anderson | 229,318 | 17.17 |
| | Independent | Jimmy Deal | 53,694 | 4.02 |
| | Independent | Clifford Mark Greene | 46,534 | 3.48 |
| | Independent | Dave T. Sumner IV | 6,057 | 0.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,335,908 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 1,575,133 | 53.68 |
| | Republican | Bill Finkbeiner | 1,359,212 | 46.32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,934,345 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed declined to run for re-election to a fourth term. The general election was won by Republican Thurston County auditor Kim Wyman, who defeated Democratic state senator Kathleen Drew by under one percentage point, resulting in the smallest statewide margin in 2012.
2012 Washington Secretary of State election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kim Wyman | 528,754 | 39.76 |
| | Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 289,052 | 21.73 |
| | Democratic | Gregory J. Nickels | 210,832 | 15.85 |
| | Democratic | Jim Kastama | 185,425 | 13.94 |
| | Constitution | Karen Murray | 50,888 | 3.83 |
| | Independent | David J. Anderson | 44,276 | 3.33 |
| | Human Rights | Sam Wright | 20,809 | 1.57 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,330,036 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Kim Wyman | 1,464,741 | 50.38 |
| | Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 1,442,868 | 49.62 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,907,609 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Attorney general

Incumbent Republican attorney general Rob McKenna retired to run for governor and did not seek a third term. Two King County Councilmembers, Republican Reagan Dunn and Democrat Bob Ferguson, faced off in the general election. Ferguson ultimately won the election.
2012 Washington Attorney General election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Ferguson | 685,346 | 51.68 |
| | Republican | Reagan Dunn | 506,524 | 38.20 |
| | Republican | Stephen Pidgeon | 134,185 | 10.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,326,055 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Bob Ferguson | 1,564,443 | 53.48 |
| | Republican | Reagan Dunn | 1,361,010 | 46.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,925,453 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### State Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic Treasurer James McIntire ran for re-election to a second term.
2012 Washington State Treasurer election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James McIntire (incumbent) | 925,850 | 96.63 |
| | Republican | Sharon Hanek (write-in) | 32,339 | 3.38 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 958,189 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | James McIntire (incumbent) | 1,695,401 | 58.71 |
| | Republican | Sharon Hanek | 1,192,150 | 41.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,887,551 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### State Auditor

Incumbent Democratic Auditor Brian Sonntag declined to run for re-election to a sixth term. Democratic state representative Troy Kelley won the election, defeating Republican James Watkins.

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Troy Kelley (D) | James Watkins (R) | Undecided |
| Elway Research | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 34% | 29% | 37% |
| Elway Research | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 36% | 27% | 38% |
2012 Washington State Auditor election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Watkins | 584,444 | 46.09 |
| | Democratic | Troy Kelley | 291,335 | 22.98 |
| | Democratic | Craig Pridemore | 268,220 | 21.15 |
| | Democratic | Mark Miloscia | 123,936 | 9.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,267,935 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Troy Kelley | 1,512,620 | 52.86 |
| | Republican | James Watkins | 1,344,137 | 46.97 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 4,831 | 0.17 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,861,588 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ran for re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican John Adams with 58% of the vote.
2012 Washington Insurance Commissioner election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 712,095 | 54.91 |
| | Republican | John Adams | 279,052 | 21.52 |
| | Republican | Scott Reilly | 241,377 | 18.61 |
| | Independent | Brian C. Berend | 64,303 | 4.96 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,296,827 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,662,555 | 58.30 |
| | Republican | John Adams | 1,188,926 | 41.70 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,851,481 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Commissioner of Public Lands

Incumbent Democratic Commissioner of Public Lands Peter J. Goldmark ran for re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Clint Didier.
2012 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent) | 683,448 | 51.88 |
| | Republican | Clint Didier | 540,907 | 41.06 |
| | Independent | Stephen A. Sharon | 92,993 | 7.06 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,317,348 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent) | 1,692,083 | 58.74 |
| | Republican | Clint Didier | 1,188,411 | 41.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,880,494 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn ran for re-election to a second term. He was unopposed in the general election. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.
2012 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn (incumbent) | 634,314 | 56.22 |
| | Nonpartisan | Ron Higgins | 172,331 | 15.27 |
| | Nonpartisan | James Bauckman | 149,370 | 13.24 |
| | Nonpartisan | Donald Hansler | 104,360 | 9.25 |
| | Nonpartisan | John P. Blair | 67,898 | 6.02 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,128,273 | 100.00 |
| General election |||||
| | Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn (incumbent) | 2,164,163 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,164,163 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### State Senate

The Democrats won on election night, but in early December two Democrats formed a conservative coalition with the Republican Caucus.

### Ballot measures

* Initiative 502 – Passed – Licensing and Regulating Marijuana
Initiative 502 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 1,724,209 | 55.70 |
| No | 1,371,235 | 44.30 |
| Total votes | 3,095,444 | 100.00 |
* Initiative 1185 – Passed – Supermajority to Raise Taxes or Close Loopholes
Initiative 1185 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 1,892,969 | 63.91 |
| No | 1,069,083 | 36.09 |
| Total votes | 2,962,052 | 100.00 |
* Initiative 1240 – Passed – Allow Charter Schools
Initiative 1240 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 1,525,807 | 50.69 |
| No | 1,484,125 | 49.31 |
| Total votes | 3,009,932 | 100.00 |
* Referendum 74 – Passed – Same Sex Marriage
Referendum 74 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 1,659,915 | 53.70 |
| No | 1,431,285 | 46.30 |
| Total votes | 3,091,200 | 100.00 |